Tag-envelop and seal.



J. H. REEVES, JR.

TAG ENVELOP AND SEAL.

APPLICATION FILED APR.14, 1908.

925,597, Patented June 22, 1909.

REGIS ERED PACKAGE THE NORRIS PETERS ca., 'wAsHmcraN, n. c.

JERRY H. REEVES, JR, OF EUFAULA, ALABAMA.

TAG-ENVELOP AND SEAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 14, 1908.

Patented June 22, 1909.

Serial No. 427,000.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JERRY H. REEvEs, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Eufaula, in the county of Barbour and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tag-Envelo s and Seals; and I do hereby declare the fol owing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to tag-envelops, and has for its object the production of a combined shipping tag, envelop and sealing device for use upon bags, packages and merchandise generally while in the course of transportation or storage.

It comprises, broadly stated, a combination tag and envelop or receptacle for cards or other inclosures, and a tag-fastener the ends whereof are secured and sealed within the confines of the envelop.

More specifically stated my invention comprises a tag-envelop formed from a blank of novel configuration, and presenting a plurality of sealin surfaces in addition to the usual or main sealing flap, thus facilitating detection if opened by unauthorized persons. Moreover, the tag-fastener or means of attachment employed is by preference made of flexible material, though not necessarily so, and enters the body of my tag-envelop at any convenient point where the ends are by preference knotted together, and are thereupon sealed by agency of a special interior sealingfia lhere are certain other details of construction which contribute more or less to the efficiency of my present invention, as will hereinafter more fully and at large appear.

The present invention is clearly adapted for marking or addressing and sealing packages, articles and closures in general, whereever tags and seals are ordinarily employed; but it is especially designed and primarily arranged for use in the postal service, by attachment to packages, letters, or pouches containing registered mail matter of all classes.

The invention will be hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims following.

In the accompanying drawings which form part of this application and whereon corresponding numerals refer to corresponding parts in the several figures, Figure 1 represents a face or tag-side-view of my invention as applied to a paper roll or shipping tube. Fig. 2 is a plan view of a blank from which the invention is produced, same being opened fiat. Fig. 3 is a central section on the line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of my improved tag envelop before sealing' Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the primary fastening and sealing means, and Figs. 6 and 7 are fragmentary views showing modified forms of the invention.

Reference being had to the drawings and numerals thereon, 1 indicates the front or tag-face of my improved tag envelop, and 2 a flexible tag-fastener whereby the invention is applied or secured to a piece of merchandise or any article to be tagged. This fastener as most clearly represented by Fig. 1 penetrates said face 1 by way of an eyeleted perforation 3 located at any convenient point, but preferably at the upper center of the structure as shown. Projecting from either side of the front member or tag-face 1, as clearly disclosed in the unfolded blank shown by Fig. 2 are side flaps 4 and 5 constructed and arranged to be folded one over the other as usual in the manufacture of envelops, but differing from ordinary envelops in that the said side flaps 4 and 5 are severed longitudinally at an approximate median line of the structure, as for example upon the line 6, 6, thus producing auxiliary flaps 7, 8 which, as shown, are gummed upon their overlapping edges but not actually sealed as the tag-envelop is manufactured and placed upon the market. Extending from the top edge of the front member or tag-face l is a main closing flap 9 gummed upon its edges as indicated by Figs. 2 and 4 while in like manner extending from the opposite edge of the same member 1 is a bottom closure 10 similar to corresponding members in ordinary envelops except for a special and final sealing flap 11 heavily gummed upon its inner surface, but which like the auxiliary flaps 7 and 8 is unsealed as the article is placed upon the market.

Within the confines of the envelop feature of my invention, in one form of its manufacture, is located an anchorage for the ends of the tag-fastener 2 before mentioned, comprising a tri-fold member 12, 13, 14. That part or body of this member indicated by the numeral 12 is rigidly affixed to the inner surface of the face 1 and perforated as at 16 to register with the perforation 3 in said face 1. Folded upon said body 12 is a lowermost fold 13 having firmly secured near its upper edge a metallic stiffening plate 16 perforated as at 17, 17 and adapted to receive the inner ends of the tag-fastener 2 which are thereupon secured as by a knot upon the surface of the plate 16, as shown. In like manner projecting from the opposite or upper edge of said body 12 is an interior sealing flap 14 gummed upon its inner surface as shown, embossed as at 18 for the purpose of spanning the knotted ends of the fastener 2, and adapted to be sealed securely upon said fold 13 when the invention is in use.

This being a description of my invention in one form of its embodiment, I will now proceed to briefly set forth its use and operation, selecting for this purpose its adaptability to the postal service, and the transmittal of registered packages or letters, as an example.

Presuming that my improved tag-envelop is to be attached to a registered package as indicated by Fig. 1, the free ends of the tag fastener 2 are first passed through eyelet 3 and its registering perforation 15, thence through the individual perforations 17-17 in plate 16 where they are securely tied, as shown by Fig. 4, thus anchoring the tag-fastener 2 within the envelop. At this stage interior sealing flap 14 is closed down upon body 12, its embossment 18 housing the knotted ends of fastener 2, and is there firmly secured upon the outer surface of the fold 13 aforesaid, thus practically sealing the tag fastener, and article to which it is attached, and insuring detection in the event that such seal is broken without authority. This primary sealing having been accomplished the ordinary postal receipt or return card is in serted within the envelop, whereupon the entire structure is further and more securely sealed as follows: Auxiliary side flap 7 is moistened and sealed upon its cooperating flap 8, the main closing flap 9 is next moistened and gummed over both auxiliary flaps 7 and 8, and to complete the sealing operation the final sealing flap 1 1 is'in like manner moistened and sealed over the main closing flap 9, whereupon the registered package is in readiness for transmittal. The tag is properly addressed, and if properly affixed to the package, letter, or pouch in transit, and sealed as above indicated, neither the article registered nor the receipt card accompanying same can be molested without detection.

In additionto its applicability to first-class registered matter, my invention is equally applicable to second and third class matter usually pouched and made up upon moving postal cars. And it is quite obvious than an accumulation of such packages or letters deposited in a common mail pouch destined to a particular city or distributing oifice, may be quickly and effectively sealed by the passage of a tag-fastener 2 about the neck of such pouch, and then sealing same as before described, an invoice of the contents of such pouch being substituted for the ordinary single card return receipt employed in connection with first class matter. Similarly my invention has a wide range of usefulness, in its adaptability to marking, sealing and merchandising goods in general, especially where it is desirable to insure, to purchasers, the delivery of goods in the original package.

The foregoing being a descri tion of my invention, I desire it understoo that I do not limit myself to the particular arrangement and combination of features hereinbefore detailed and described, but on the contrary with a flexible fastener the ends whereof are secured and sealed within the envelop, substantially as described.

2. As an article of manufacture an envelop or closure for papers having a sealing flap and an outer tag surface, in combination with a flexible fastener the ends whereof are knotted and sealed within the envelop, substantially as described.

3. In a tag-envelop, the combination with suitable flaps and closures, of a flexible tag fastener entering said envelop, and an interior sealing flap for securing the ends of said fastener within the envelop, substantially as described.

4. In a tag-envelop, the combination with a flexible tag-fastener entering said envelop, an anchorage for the ends of said fastener within the envelop, and an interior sealing flap adapted to inclose said anchorage and fastener ends, substantially as described.

5. In a tag-envelop, the combination with a perforated metallic plate secured within the envelop, a flexible tag fastener enterin said envelop and secured to said perforated plate, and an embossed sealing flap adapted side flap arranged and constructed to be when sealed to inclose said plate and fastener sealed over the main envelop flap, substanends, substantially as described. tially as described.

6. In a tag-envelop, the combination with In testimony whereof I affix my signature, 5 a flexiclfle 131g faslitener tllle ends whereof fine in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

secure wit in t e enve 0 an interior a adapted to inclose and seal aidfastener ends JERRY REEVES side flaps adapted to be sealed over the flap Witnesses: aforesaid, a main envelop flap sealable upon WM. E. DYRE, 10 the last named flaps, and an auxiliary out- JOHN J. SPEIGHT. 

